Mythical, magical Paris: a dream destination for some, a vivid vacation memory for others. As with any vacation spot, the popular tourist attractions sometimes vary significantly from where those in the know go. Here are some insider’s tips to Paris:
One of the things Paris is most known for is its shopping. When you’ve had enough of the swarms of shoppers on the Champs Elysées—where Cartier, Louis Vuitton and other big names have set up camp—go to the Rue de Rennes in the Montparnasse neighborhood. This long, shop-lined street stretches from the famous Montparnasse Tower down to the Latin Quarter and offers an ample array of boutiques, cafés and restaurants. Quite busy on Saturdays, this street is perfect for weekday shopping.
Another well-kept secret is a shopping center called Usines Center (www.usinescenter.biz). Located near Charles de Gaulle airport, Usines Center resembles an American outlet store with everything from clothes to toys to tableware. It’s a bit outside the city, but definitely worth the trip.
For all those treasure hunters out there, Paris offers the largest flea market in all of France: Les Puces de St. Ouen (www.st-ouen-tourisme.com), open Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Among the 2,500 stands, you can find items ranging from the finest antiques to trendy clothes and jewelry. Go early, as it’s a popular Sunday morning activity for Parisians. And, of course, as in all metropolitan cities, mind your pockets and your purse.
No trip to Paris would be complete without a visit to an outdoor food market, held all over the city on Wednesdays and Sunday mornings and featuring walkways lined with fresh fruits and vegetables and customers taking turns buying meat from the butcher or a wheel of cheese from the fromager. If you’re looking for deals, try going about an hour before the markets close, usually around noon.
If fondue is your poison, skip the tourist traps and try Le Chalet de Neuilly (14 rue du Commandant Pilot, Neuilly sur Seine, 01-46-24-03-11). This restaurant near La Défense neighborhood specializes in the art of fondue—anything from cheese to chocolate. Dip with caution—French tradition dictates that the person who drops his piece of bread in fondue must accept a dare.
Another dependable and reasonably priced restaurant in Paris is a chain called Chez Clément. Located throughout Paris, notably on the Champs Elysées (123 Avenue des Champs Elysées, 01-40-73-87-00, www.chezclement.com), it offers an extensive, imaginative menu that changes with the seasons. Try the always-available, enormous fresh seafood platters or the special menus called Assiettes de Charme (“charming plates,” which combine small portions of several specialties). Bon voyage!
